Delano launches community market

Greg Reynolds, of Riverbend Farms near Delano, checks out the produce table of fellow farmer Heather Lewin, of Farm Farm in Mound at Delano’s new outdoor community market. Saturday, Sept. 15 is the last day this year for the market that runs along River Street in Delano.(Photo by Susan Van Cleaf)

Visitors to River Street can find all of these at the new outdoor Delano Community Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon through Sept. 15. A wide variety of booths line the west side of the street between Bridge Avenue and the Granite Building at Elm Avenue.

The community market is a youthful enterprise that started its first season on July 14. The Delano Food Council and the Delano Lions are collaborating in the effort, and both groups are pleased with how things have turned out so far.

Carolyn Goble, left, of Delano and Kristine Johnson of Delano preside over their table of handcrafted jewelry at Delano’s new outdoor community market, held on Saturday mornings on River Street. (Photo by Susan Van Cleaf)

Lion Harlan Lewis said the market is a popular place for bikers — motorized and pedal — to take a break during their travels from places like Independence to places like Watertown. Because the travelers are on bikes, they might not buy much, but they do get a peek at what Delano has to offer.

Deb DeBeer, of the Delano Food Council, said the community market is not “just a farmers’ market.” This is an opportunity for community activities to showcase what they do. The market’s goal is to feature a different organization, artist, business or farmer each week, and, in this way, celebrate the community. She hopes that the community market will have a weekly schedule of featured attractions next year to release to the public.

On a Saturday in August, shoppers could find a huge variety of produce, along with jams, honey, jewelry, stained glass, handcrafted clothing and purses and handcrafted walking sticks.

Also on the scene was a table for the Food Council. The council is asking people to help it with a survey of local food sources within a 10-mile radius of Delano, so it can get a picture of current production in the area. The group also wants to know about additional food sources that people would like to see in the area. For information, call the Delano Food Council at 972-3295 or write Mary Reynolds, P.O. Box 404, Delano, MN 55328.

The new community market join’s Wednesday’s Delano Farmers Market in the Delano outdoor shopping scene. The farmers market will be open from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays through October in the parking lot at Flippin’ Bills, located on Highway 12 and County Line Road.

Lion Harlan Lewis said the community market is making every effort to not compete with the farmers market.